A Promising Frontier: Cannabis's Medicinal Prospects in Alagoas, Brazil

In 2022, the state of Alagoas, located in the northeastern region of Brazil, published new legislation regarding the medicinal use of Cannabis, which includes provisions for medical prescription, support for scientific research, continued education for healthcare professionals, and public events on the topic. Therefore, this study aimed to conduct a survey within the state of Alagoas, focusing on local scientific publications, the number of Cannabis-based medications prescribed, the development of clinical research and patents involving Cannabis, and initiatives for public events on the subject. The findings revealed that scientific research remains limited to publications in regional journals, with minimal international reach. Additionally, the number of prescribed and sold medications in Alagoas could not be obtained due to a failure in the national registration system. There is no development of clinical research or patents in Alagoas involving Cannabis. Lastly, there is a significant number of initiatives aimed at informing the non-specialized population and patients about the topic. Thus, our study showed that the local legislation is promising for the therapeutic use of Cannabis, but the state of Alagoas has yet to fully embrace all the possibilities authorized by the law.